Who are the Midlands’ high school girls basketball Player and Coach of Year? Vote now
With the high school basketball season over in South Carolina, it’s time to vote for The State’s Midlands Girls Player of the Year and Girls Coach of the Year.
Voting ends at noon Thursday, March 20, and you can vote as many times you like. The winner will be announced March 20 along with our all-area boys basketball team and our staff’s pick for player of the year for the 2024-25 season.
(This poll is just for fun and not meant to be scientific.)
Coach of Year Nominees
Candace Bush, Dutch Fork: Bush led Silver Foxes to a second straight region title, 20-plus win season and secured the No. 1 seed in 5A Division I Upper State playoffs before losing in the second round to JL Mann. Before last season, DF hadn’t won a region title since 2014.
Ashley Gilmore, Eau Claire: Gilmore led the Shamrocks to first state championship appearance since 1998 before losing to Andrew Jackson in 2A title game. Eau Claire won 19 games this season, most for the program since 2010.
Aaron Lucas, Lower Richland: Lucas led Diamond Hornets to a 25-2 record, third straight region title and second state semifinal appearance in the last three seasons. The 25 wins were the most since 2014.
Reggie McClain, Keenan: McClain led the Raiders to a 19-7 record and another region championship. Keenan advanced to the third round of 3A playoffs before losing to Oceanside Collegiate.
Emily Schaeffer, Blythewood: Schaeffer led the Bengals to first state championship in school history with Blythewood defeating Summerville for the Class 5A Division I championship. Blythewood also won the region title for the first time since 2008 and won a school-record 29 games.
Player of Year Nominees
Michaela Fairwell, Dutch Fork: Farewell averaged 18.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.0 steals, 3.0 steals this season. She was an all-state selection, selected to play in Carolinas Classic All-Star game and signed with UC-San Diego.
Chi’Nya Isaac, Lower Richland: Senior guard averaged 14 points, 3.4 assists, 3.3 steals, two rebounds a game this season and also scored a career-high 32 points in the second round of 4A playoffs. Isaac was an all-state selection, picked to play in the Carolinas Classic All-Star game and committed to Texas A&M International.
Lauren Jacobs, Heathwood Hall: Senior averaged 25.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.7 steals and 2.4 assists a game. Jacobs was named 2025 SC Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year and is signed with Ole Miss.
Taelor Lee-Sutton, Keenan: Freshman was an all-state selection and averaged 18.3 points, 5.0 steals and 3.0 assists this season.
Ceddrianna Springs, Saluda: Freshman was an all-state selection and averaged 21.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.6 steals and 1.1 blocks this season.
Chase Thomas, Blythewood: Junior was an all-state selection and averaged 23 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and shot 80 percent from the free-throw line.
Destinee Tiller, Eau Claire: Senior was an all-state selection and averaged 20.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.9 steals, 2.2 assists and 1.4 blocks per game.
This story was originally published March 13, 2025 at 1:38 PM.
